UEA job cuts fears raised at Norfolk County Council meeting

The UEA last week announced it was set to make compulsory redundancies after suffering a £13.9m loss.

The university said it was "currently experiencing significant cost challenges, driven by the effects of Covid, the tuition fee freeze, pressures on student numbers and rising costs for energy, pay and pensions".

At a meeting of Norfolk County Council's full council on Tuesday (January 24), Andrew Proctor, the leader of the Conservative-controlled authority, faced questions about the situation.

Andrew Proctor, leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Emma Corlett, deputy leader of the opposition Labour group, said the job losses would be "catastrophic for Norfolk" and asked Mr Proctor if he had spoken to the vice-chancellor about the cuts and if he would lobby MPs and the higher education minister about the matter.

Labour group deputy leader Emma Corlett (Image: Archant)

Mr Proctor said he was aware of what had been going on, but had not been in contact with the vice-chancellor.

He said: "I think the UEA are going through the same sort of situation as any business at the moment - looking at their costs, looking at their income, making sure they have the right organisation to support the future."

Green group leader Ben Price (Image: Norwich Greens)

Green group leader Ben Price said the UEA employs more than 3,700 staff.

He asked Mr Proctor if he accepted it was a major local employer and if he would, along with other group leaders, write to the secretary of state and MPs calling for more financial support to safeguard the jobs.

Mr Proctor said: "Everybody is affected currently by what they have to pay out and their income streams. Can we regard the UEA as a business? I think we should do and, in that respect, they've got to follow the same principles as any other business."